Collapsible box.



H. HEINRICH.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX.

APPLICATION min APR-2.1915.

1,176,755. Patented Mar. 28,1916.

HERMAN HEINRICH, OF PA'IERSON, NEW JERSEY.

ooLLAPsInLE BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

Application filed. April 2, 1915. Serial No. 18,660.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HERMAN HEINRICH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Paterson, county of Passaic, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Collapsible Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is directed to foldable or collapsible boxes or receptacles and particularly to ,a box which'is suitable for use as a dice-box, but it will be manifest that the invention is applicable to boxes for 7 other purposes.

As showing a specific embodiment of the invention, reference is made to the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of the box when extended, assembled or unfolded. F ig. 2 is a perspective view of the box when folded or collapsed. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the box when assembled or unfolded. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the box; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the box in partially folded position.

The box comprises the upright front and back' members B and A, upright sides C and D, bottom E and strap F. The upright front and back members 13 and A are each composed of a relatively stifl member which extends the full width of the box. The upright side members are each composed of two relatively stiff parts X and Y, which parts have a hinge connection between them that is located along the vertically extending medial line'of each side, as along the line Z. The part Y of side member C has a hinge connection at a to the back member A, and the part Y of side member D has a hinge connection at 7) to the back member A. Similarly, the part X of the side member 0 has a hinge connection at e to the front member B and the part X of side member D has a hinge connection at e tothe front member B. The main portion of the up right front and back members and side members are preferably of a relatively stiff material, such as card-board, which may be covered with a flexible material; for example, on the outer portion with leather, as L, and on the interior portion with a suitable lining, such as clcth, designated by M. This outer covering of leather and the cloth lining cooperate to form the hinge connections between the various parts or members and also give the upright portion of the box a finished appearance.

The bottom of the box comprises a horizontally extending member G of relatively stiff material and to this horizontally extending member there are secured the upright flange portions N O P B. This bottom is provided with any suitable covering, such as leather or cloth, to give this member of the box a finished appearance. Between the upstanding flanges or flange portions N O P R a receiving space is provided within which dice or other articles can be carried when the box is folded. These flanges also preferably fit within the lower portions of the upright members to maintain the latter in extended position.

'When the various parts of the box occupy the position shown in Fig. 1; that is, with the upright front, back and side members in extended position with the bottom member in place, they are held in this extended or assembled position by means of the strap F. This strap is secured to the back member, passes under the bottom member, through openings ss in the covering thereof, thence upwardly along the front member to the upper portion thereof where the free end of the strap is secured at T. When the box is in collapsed or folded position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the flange portion of the bottom member rests upon the front member B and the strap passes over the upper edges of the upright members A and B and is finally secured to the upper portion of the back member at V.

The improvements herein set forth are not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as they may be embodied in various forms and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is 1. A collapsible box having upright front and back members, side members, a bottom member and a strap, the upright front and back members each being of a single piece of relatively stiff material, the side members each being formed of two relatively stiff parts that are hinged together, said sides also being hinge connected to the front and back members whereby the sides can occupy an extended position or can be folded between the front and back members, the bottom being provided with an upstanding flange portion which engages the lower interior portion of the upright members, the

strap being secured to the back member, passing under and through a portion of the bottom member and then upwardly along the upward front member where the free end of the strap is secured to the upper portion of the upright member, the several parts or members of the box being constructed so that they can be placed in position whereby the strap *ill pass over the upper edges of the front and back members where it can be secured to the back member for holding the box parts or members in collapsed or folded position.

2. A collapsible box having upright front and back members, upright side members, a bottom member and a strap, the upright front and back members each comprising a strip of relatively stiff material extending the full width of the box; the side members each being formed of two relativelystili parts that are connected together by a flexible material which serves as a hinge between said parts; said side members also being connected to the front and back members by a flexible material which serves as a hinge between said members thus connected, the bottom being provided with an upstanding flange portion which engages the lower portion of the upright members, the strap being secured to the back member passing under the bottom member and thence to the front member to which the free end of the strap is secured, the several parts or members of the box being so constructed members, and a back member which has a hinge-connection to the other part of each of the side members, a bottom which fits the lower portionof said upright members when in assembled position, and a strap which is secured to the back member, passes under the bottom'to hold the latter in position,

thence to the upright front member where the strap is secured when holding the box parts or members in assembled or extended position, the construction'of the boxparts or members being such that when collapsed the bottom will lie against one of the upright members and will be maintained in such position by the strap which can be secured in a manner to hold .all of the box parts in collapsed position. g

This specification signed and witnessed this 31st day of March, A. D. 1915.

HERMAN HEINRICH. Signed in the presence of- EDWIN A. PACKARD, G. MCU'RANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fiemmissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

